Navigation for large scale graphs

Abstract

A method is illustrated as retrieving a plurality of search queries and defining relationships between search queries in the plurality of search queries based on semantic data associated with the search queries. A visual representation of the plurality of search queries may be generated and the visual representation may be partitioned into a plurality of tiles, each tile representing a predefined portion of the visual representation.

1. A computer implemented method comprising:
 retrieving a plurality of search queries; 
 defining relationships between search queries in the plurality of search queries based on semantic data associated with the search queries; 
 generating, using at least one processor, a visual representation of the plurality of search queries; 
 partitioning the visual representation into a plurality of tiles, each tile representing a predefined portion of the visual representation; 
 storing multiple versions of the plurality of tiles, each version of the multiple versions associated with different zoom levels of the visual representation; 
 retrieving metadata defining rendering characteristics of the plurality of search queries, the rendering characteristics including a characteristic defining how to render the plurality of search queries at each zoom level of the different zoom levels, the rendering of the search queries differing at the different zoom levels; and 
 receiving a selection input selecting a first search query displayed in a tile of the plurality of tiles; 
 identifying, using at least one processor, an additional tile associated with the first search query and additional search queries organized according to semantic relationship between the plurality of search queries; and 
 transmitting the additional tile to a user device for display. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a visual representation of the plurality of search queries includes assigning Cartesian coordinates to the plurality of search queries. 
     
     
       3. The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the semantic data includes a portion of an attribute shared by the first search query and a second search query. 
     
     
       4. The computer implanted method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the visual representation of the plurality of search queries includes generating edges between representations of search queries based on the relationships between queries of the plurality of search queries. 
     
     
       5. The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the visual representation of the plurality of search queries includes generating an image file. 
     
     
       6. The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein partitioning the visual representation into a plurality of tiles further includes:
 setting a tile size; 
 splitting the visual representation into the plurality of tiles according to the tile size; 
 determining at least one query of the plurality of search queries located within each of the plurality of tiles; and 
 generating scaled vector graphic data for the at least one query of the plurality of search queries. 
 
     
     
       7. The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the search queries are associated with items for sale and the method further includes:
 displaying items for sale associated with the first search query. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further including:
 receiving a starting search query; and 
 searching a visual representation of the search queries for the starting search query. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the additional tile further includes:
 retrieving an image file representing the additional tile. 
 
     
     
       10. A system comprising:
 an application server comprising:
 a processor; 
 a retrieving engine to retrieve a plurality of search queries; 
 a graphing engine to define relationships between search queries in the plurality of search queries based on semantic data associated with the search queries; 
 a layout engine to generate a visual representation of the plurality of search queries; 
 a partitioning engine to partition the visual representation into a plurality of tiles, each tile representing a predefined portion of the visual representation; 
 an image database to store multiple versions of the plurality of tiles, each version of the multiple versions associated with different zoom levels of the visual representation; and 
 a second retrieving engine to retrieve metadata defining rendering characteristics of the plurality of search queries, the rendering characteristics including a characteristic defining how to render the plurality of search queries at each zoom level of the different zoom levels, the rendering of the search queries differing at the different zoom levels; and 
 
 wherein the application server is configured to: 
 receive a selection input selecting a first search query displayed in a tile of the plurality of tiles; 
 identify an additional tile associated with the first search query and additional search queries organized according to semantic relationship between the plurality of search queries; and 
 transmit the additional tile to user device for display. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the layout engine is configured to generate the visual representation by assigning Cartesian coordinates to the plurality of search queries. 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 retrieving a plurality of search queries; 
 defining relationships between search queries in the plurality of search queries based on semantic data associated with the search queries; 
 generating a visual representation of the plurality of search queries; and 
 partitioning the visual representation into a plurality of tiles, each tile representing a predefined portion of the visual representation; 
 storing multiple versions of the plurality of tiles, each version of the multiple versions associated with different zoom levels of the visual representation; 
 retrieving metadata defining rendering characteristics of the plurality of search queries, the rendering characteristics including a characteristic defining how to render the plurality of search queries at each zoom level of the different zoom levels, the rendering of the search queries differing at the different zoom levels; and 
 receiving a selection input selecting a first search query displayed in a tile of the plurality of tiles; 
 identifying, using at least one processor, an additional tile associated with the first search query and additional search queries organized according to semantic relationship between the plurality of search queries; and 
 transmitting the additional tile to a user device for display. 
 
     
     
       13. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the generating of the visual representation of the plurality of search queries includes assigning Cartesian coordinates to the plurality of search queries. 
     
     
       14. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the semantic data includes a portion of an attribute shared by the first search query and a second search query. 
     
     
       15. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the generating of the visual representation of the plurality of search queries includes generating edges between representations of search queries based on the relationships between queries of the plurality of search queries. 
     
     
       16. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the generating of the visual representation of the plurality of search queries includes generating an image file. 
     
     
       17. The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the partitioning of the visual representation into a plurality of tiles includes:
 setting a tile size; 
 splitting the visual representation into the plurality of tiles according to the tile size; 
 determining at least one query of the plurality of search queries located within each of the plurality of tiles; and 
 generating scaled vector graphic data for the at least one query of the plurality of search queries.